Plate-printing machine



No. 6|6,028. Patented Dec. I3, |898. J. P. STEVENS.

PLATE PRINTING MACHINE.

(Application led Mar. 30, 18983. (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet l.

WITNESSES INVENTOR.

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No. 6|6,028. v Patented Dec. I3, |898.

J. P. STEVENS. PLATE PlnlNTlN MACHINE.

(Appl: t n ldM 30 1898) (no Mom.) e sheets-sheet 2.

WITNESSES v lNVENTOR. Ki .IWW dos/Aff /Dfcr 5TH/fw,

No. 6I6,o28.

Y Patented Dec. I3, |898. .I. P. STEVENS. PLATE PRINTING IIIAcIIINIs.

(Application iled Mar. 30, 18983. (No Model.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 3.

ATTORNEYS No. 646,028. Patented nec. I3, |398.

J. P. STEVENS. f

PLATE PRINTING MACHINE.

(Application led Mar. 30, 1898.i

(No Model.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

WITNESSES INVENTOR. I .I .RAW D .PSEi/f/vs,

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J. P. sTEvENs. PLATE PRINTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 30, 1898.3

(No Nudel.)

m5, m MN m yi H\ QU w n Q, DM H. n/n mm dw Nm. o nw wwkmwwwwv Ma MUNITED STATES PATENT EEICE JosIAII PERoY sTEv'ENs, on ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

PLATE-'PRINTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION fermig part of Lettere Patent No. 616,028, dated December'1s, 189s.

Application led March 30, 1898. Serial No. 675,818. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it nung/,concerm Be it known that I, JOSIAH PEROYSTEVENS, i

a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Atlanta,inthe county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have madeacertain new anduseful Improvement in Plate-Printing Machines; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being hadv to theaccompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, whichform part of this specification.

This invention relates to `presses or machines for printing fromintaglio-plates upon cards usually, but adaptable to use on anythickness of paper, the object of the-invention being to provide adevice of this class in which the cards or blanks may be fed accuratelyand more rapidly from the back side of the machine, and whereby animproved impression is obtained and a satisfactory application of powerfrom a line-shaft is obtained.

The invention consists of the device here inafter fully specified andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a side elevation of the device,the position for the inker or pressman proper being at the left of saidfigure and for the feeder at the right thereof. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalvertical section of the device, showing, however,one of the end piecesof the frame removed-that is, beingasection on line2 2, Fig. 3. Fig. 3is a plan ofthe device. Fig.4isa detail in isometric perspective of theguide-bars, the die-carriage, and the card-carriage, showing theadjustable card-holder on the latter. Fig. 4 is a similar view showingthe parts in position for printing with the die in place and the papershown in dotted lines'. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the segmentalplaten, showing the adjustable cam for causing the card-carriage to moveinto engagement with the periphery of said segmental platen. Fig. 6 is afragmentary detail of the ily-wheel, the clutch, and thedisengaging-cam. Fig. 7 is an end view from the left of Fig. 6. View ofthe self-inking attachment, a portion of the frame being in section.Fig. 9 is a front view thereof. Fig. l0 is a side elevation, and Fig. 1lis an end view, of the detent and re- Fg. 8 is a side lease mechanism.Fig. I2 is a fragmentary detail vin plan of the card-clamp on thecardcarriage. Fig. 13 is a longitudinal vertical section thereof. Fig.14 is a vertical crosssection.

views.

10 are side pieces of the frame, which may obviously be of any formdesired and necessary to sustain the workingv parts of the device.

1l are guide-rods, which should be sufficiently flexible to allow thecarriage, when under pressure, to rest upon the abutment 19, yet strongenough to obviat-e any danger of their taking short bends, becomingpermanently distorted by use, or otherwise -becoming incapable ofperforming duty which devolves upon them, as will be hereinafter setforth. These guide-rods are made vertically adjustable by means ofswinging arms 12 and 13, to the upper ends of which they are secured bymeans of bars 15, extending therebetween, and shackles 1G, mounted so asto be` movable laterally along said bars l5. These swinging arms 12A and13 are secured to the frame, the latter adjustably to the frame 10 bymeans of intermediate arms 14, and the former being preferably secureddirectly to the frame l0, so as to partially revolve upon the boltssecuring them to the frame, as shown in Figs. l and 2. It is obviousthat these guide-rods 1l may be adjustably supported on the frame inmany ways, and hence l do not confine myself to the particularconstruction herein shown.

Extending vertically of the parts l0 of the frame are slots, and in thelower end of these slots, in journal-bearing boxes 17, is a shaft 18, onwhich is semirotatably mounted the rotating abutment 19, the peripherythereof lying in about the plane of the guide-rod 1l and beingadjustable vertically by means vof shims under the lower bearing-boxes17.

Intermediate blocks 22 may or may not be employed, as desired, in theslots; but in the construction sho-wn these are used for con- IOOvenience, and a spring 23, lying in each slot,

extends upwardly from said block to the lower one of the bearing-boxes24e, a screw 25 acting to limit the upward movement of said boxes ineach slot. 26 is a shaft rotatably mounted in the said bearing-boxes 24,carrying thereon the segmental platen 27, (best shown in Figs. 2, 3, and5,) which is the ordinary device used in machines of this class as animpressionplaten. It is obvious that this platen may be adjusted to andfrom the guide-rods 11 and the peripheral surface of the rotatingabutment 19, or being located positively against upward movement by itsabutment with the screws 25 through the medium of the shaft and itsbearing-boxes. This adjustment is necessary to accommodate engravedplates of different thicknesses and to get the proper impression 28 isthe die or plate carriage and slides upon the guide-rods 11,its motionbackwardly being limited by a collar 29 and an interposed spring orwasher 30 of elastic material. A cord or chain 3l, attached to thiscarriage, but one end passing through a sheave 32 and bearing a weight33 on its end, serves to bring said carriage to its normal position orit-s position whereon it is inked and wiped by hand or by suitableinking or wiping mechanism, as shall be found most desirable. On oneside of this carriage 28 is an adjustable strap 34, having anupwardly-projecting lip 35, which comes into contact with the cam 36,secured adj ustably to the eorrelative end of the segmental platen 27.This strap 34 and the cam 36 should be so adjusted that the carriagewill be carried forward promptly to the point of engagement of the plate37 with the periphery of the segmental platen 27 and then disrupt theengagement between the parts 35 and 36 and allow the carriage to moveforward with its lower side resting upon the periphery of the rotatableabutment 19 and the upper side of the plate with the part interposed andlying thereon in forcible contact with the platen 27. To this end thebar 3l is slotted, so as to move longitudinally upon the plate-carriage28, and the cam 36 is provided with a segmental slot, as shown in Fig.5. As also shown in Fig. 5 and forsake of good mechanical construction,the cam 36 is made in two pieces-that is, a body 38 of a strong metaland a point 39 of metal capable of receiving a high temper, such aswould insure good wearing qualities. A cap-screw 48 serves to join thesetwo parts.

On the shaft 2G is a combined tly and band wheel 49, running loosely onthe shaft and carrying one element 50 of the clutch, 51 being the otherelement and being splined to the said shaft 26, a spring 52 serving tokeep the two clutch elements in engagement.

53 is a lug projecting from the side of the clutch element 51, and 54,Figs. 6 and 7, is a segmental cam partially encircling the said clutchelement 51 and lying at an angle to the plane of rotation thereon and ofrevolution of the lug 53. This inclined segmental cam is secured to arod 55, which is mounted slidably 1n suitable guides on one of the sidepieces 10 of the frame and is spring-pressed upwardly, a treadle 56serving to depress the same. Now it is obvious that when this segment 54is depressed the lug 53 will be free of engagement therewith and theclutch element 5l will be forced into engagement with the element 50 bythe spring 52, and the said clutch element 5l will hence rotate with thewheel L19 and rotate the shaft 26, thus revolving the platen 27. It willalso be seen that if during this rotation of the clutch element 51 thesegment 5l shall be elevated the lug 53 will engage with this inclinedside and disengage the two clutch elements.

57 is a card-carriage which consists of a slide 58, having on its twoopposite extremities guides 59, adapted to engage in any desired mannerone of the guide-rods 11 and having arms 60 thereon, adapted to restupon or otherwise engage the other rod, and thus preserving theequilibrium of the frame 58, one of which arms 60 is adapted to passupon and along an elevation 58 and so tilt the card-carriage 57 as todisrupt its engagement with the plate-carriage, as will be presentlydescribed. Lying along the upper side of the carriage 57 is a bar 61,which is secured to said carriage so as to be movable laterally thereon,being adjusted by means of thumbscrews 62, provided with suitablejam-nuts 63, as shown. The end of this bar 6l is capable of carrying acard on its end, so as to register it with the die 37. On the carriage28 is a finger 64, and carried on the carriage 57 is a screw 65, havinga head 66, adapted to pass over the edge of said finger'l and engagesame by a downward movement. This screw 65 is adjustable longitudinally,and a jam-nut 66 is provided thereon to hold same in any set position.This device causes the engagement of the two carriages 28 and 57,whereby the card is caused to remain stationary over the plate 37 beyondany danger of displacement during the time the carriage 28 isapproaching the point where the 4impression takes place. To the upperside of the free end of the bar 61 is hinged the plate 67, a spring 67'of suitable form being provided for closing the said hinge elementdownwardly onto the upper side of the said bar, whereby a card may beclamped between them. In the said bar 6l are small openings 68, intowhich pins 68', carried on the element 67, may, pass, said pins formingstops to locate the card in the clamp so formed. It is now necessary toprovide means for opening the said clamp and for ejecting thev card.This consists in the construction shown of a cam 69 on the under side ofthe said element 67 and a plunger 69 longitudinally movable in a groovein the bar 61 and caused to move by means of a rod 69, connected theretoand passing through suitable guides in the carriage 57, projecting fromthe back side thereof into position to strike the abutment 69', a spring69" (shown in broken lines in Fig. 12) acting to hold the said bar 69 inits nor- IOO IIO

mal position. The card is thrown out by means of a latch 70, pivotallysecured to the plunger 67 and being slotted and engaging a pin 70',whereby as the plunger moves forwardly in the direction of the arrowFig. l2, the free end of -the latch will be thrown outwardly to strikethe edgeyof the card and eject it, as shown by broken lines in Fig. l2.The bar 6l and the member 67 are recessed for the latch 70, and it ispreferable that this latch lie below the surface of the bar 6l, with alug projecting upwardly above said surface, and contacting with theledge of the4 card as the said latch moves forwardly. As the carriage isdrawn back by the feeder after an impression the end of the rod 69"contacts with the abutment 69 and moves the plunger 69l in the directionof the arrow 0c, Fig. l2, lifting the member 67 and throwing the latchforward, whereby the card is unclamped and ejected. The feeder thensimply introduces a card between the member 67 and bar 6l, and pushingthe carriage away from the abutment 69" the spring 69 will cause areverse movement of the plunger 69', causing the latch 70 to be quicklywithdrawn by means of the pins 70 and the member 67 to close upon thecard, whereupon the carriage 57 may be moved forwardly, or toward thecarriage 28, and the two correlative hooks, consisting of the finger 64and the head 56, come into engagement, when the card will be firmly heldin registry with the plate 37. Of course it will be obvious that thelateral adjustment of the bar 6l and the longitudinal adjustment of thescrew cooperate to permit any adjustment of the card relatively to theengraved line of the plate 37, so as to cause proper registry.

In Figs. 9, 10, and ll is shown the inking device, which l will nowproceed to describe.

74 is a circular platen rotatably mounted upon an arm 75, secured insome suitable place on the frame and being caused to rotate by means ofa wiper-arm 76, secured to the segmental platen 27. Secured to the hub77, which is rotatably mounted on a stud 78, is an arm 79, carrying theink-roller 80 on its free end and by its vibration rolling said armacross the face of the said rotatable platen 74 and bringing it intoposition to be contacted with by the plate 37 as the carriage 28 passesunder it, being locked in its downward position by the hooked latch 8l(best shown in Fig. l0) and engaging with the hooked end of the arm 82,secured to the arm 79. Projecting downwardly from the hub 77 is a shortarm 83, to which is secured one end of a tog-- gie-lever composed ofmembers 84 84. These toggles are operated by means of a pitman 85,connected thereto at its upper end and at its lower end connected to thelever 86, pivoted on the frame and operated by a cord or chain 3l',leading from the weight 33, which weight, as above stated, operates,through the cord 3l, to return the plate-carriage 28 to itsnormalposition. Obviously the movements of 87 is an arm which is secured tothe frame, Y

as best shown in Fig. 8, and 88 is an arm pivoted thereon, having a foot89 on its lower end and being slotted in its upper end. 90 is a slidesecured to the said part 88 by means of a screw 91, passing through theslot into the upper end of said plate, and the adjusting-screw 92,passing through the feet 89 and 93, the detent 8l being secured to theupper end of this slide 90. It will thus be seen that the detent 8l ispivotally secured to the said arm and adjustable vertically, thevertical adjustment being desired in order that the hooked end of thearm 82 may be made to take onto this detent, so as to accommodaterollers. differing in their diameters.

94 is a pitman which is pivotally secured to the upper end of thedetent-pawl 81, and being horizontally placed alongside the desired oneof the bars 1l its other end is supported and guided bya slottedengagement with the upright 95, which is secured to the distal extremityof the arm 87. 95 is a spring acting to press the pawl 8l forwardly. 96is a pin which is set in the side of the said pitman 94,

projecting into such a position relative to the guide l1 as to be struckby the carriage 28 ou its return to its normal position. The point ot'engagement of the lower end of the cord 3l with the lever 86 is madeadjustable to insure the same movement of the inkingroller regardless ofthe exact length of movement of the carriage 28. The die may be wiped byhand in the usual manner.

The operation of this device is as follows: The plate 37, having beensuitably attached to the upper side of the carriage 28, is inked, wiped,and set forth and prepared by the pressman, and the card is inserted byits edge under the-lip 67 of the bar 6l of the near carriage 57 by thehelper,who stands at the back of the machine or on the opposite sidethereof from the pressman, by means of which there is no crossinterference between them, both having sufficient room to do their work.The operation as referred to having been accomplished, the feeder movesthe carriage 57 along the guide-rods ll until the head 66 contacts withthe forward end of the carriage 28, when the pressman may correct theadjustment of the bar 61 to provide the proper card and plate registry,start the press by means ofthe treadle 56,throwing in the clutch, (theoperation of which has been su fliciently described,) and then pressesthe carriages 28 and 57 forwardly until the cam 36 engages the lug 35and draws the plate and superincumbent card underthe segmentalplaten-27,

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with the lower side of the carriage 28 in forcible contact with therotating abutment 19,and so effects the transfer ot' ink from theinta-glio portions of the plate 37 to the lower side of card. Therevolution of the segmental platen 27 being continued propels thecarriage 28, which in turn pushes the carriage 57 toward the feeder,who,as soon as the card is released from being clamped between the plate andthe platen 27 grasps the carriage 57 and draws it toward her, removingthe card and laying it upon the drying-tray or on the pile of printedcards and inserting another card in the clamp. The operation of thisclamp and the connected parts has already been described. As soon as theface of the segmental platen 27 passes out of engagement with thecarriage 2S and the said carriage 28 is thereby released the weight 33will, through the cord or chain 3l, return the said carriage 2S to itsnormal position,when the operation is repeated.

The various adjustments of the device have been fully explained and thedescription of the parts themselves, and a further explanation thereofis deemed unnecessary.

Ilaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Let-ters Patent of the United States, is-

l. In a plate-printing machine, depressible guides, a carriage slidingthereon and adapted to receive and hold the plate, an impression-platenrotatably mounted above said guides and a rotating abutment below saidguides directly under said platen to withstand the force ot the impression, for the purpose specified.

2. In a plate-printing machine, flexible guides,a plate-carriage slidingthereon,means for applying pressure on the said plate-carriage, acard-carriage also mounted to slide on the said guides, and providedwith means for holding a card over the said plate-carriage, and anabutment below the said ilexible guides to withstand the force of theimpression, substantially as described.

3. In a plate printing machine, flexible guides,a plate-carriage slidingthereon,means for applying pressure on the said plate-carriage, acard-carriage also mounted to slide on the said guides and provided withmeans for holding a card over the said plate-carriage, means for lockingthe card-carriage to the plate-carriage, and an abutment below the saidflexible guides to withstand the force of the impression, substantiallyas described.

4. In a plate-printing machine, guides, a plate-carriage slidingthereon, means for applying pressure on the face of said platecarriage,and a card-carriage provided with means for holding a card over saidplate-carriage consisting of an arm projecting from same toward saidplate-carriage and a plate thereon adapted -to engage a card andslidably mounted on said guides for the purpose specified.

5. In a plate-printing machine, guides, a

plate carriage mounted slidably thereon, means foi-compressing saidcarriagein transit, and a card-carriage mounted slidably on said guide,an arm adjustably secured to the said cardcarriage, and projectingtoward said plate-carriage andmeans for securing a card to the free endof said arm, for the purpose specified.

6. In a plate-printing machine, guides, a plate carriage mountedslidably thereon, means for compressing said carriage in transit and acard-carriage mounted slidablyon said guides, an arm adj ustably securedto the said card carriage, and projecting toward said plate-carriage andmeans forsecuring a card to the free end of said arm comprising a clampcarried on the end of said arm and means for opening and closing saidclamp respectively on the approach and departure of the cardcarriagefrom its norm al position, for the purpose specified.

7. In a plate-printing machine, guides, a plate carriage mountedslidably thereon, means forcompressing said carriage in transit, and acard-carriage mounted slidably on said guide, an arm adj ustably securedto the said card-carriage, and projecting toward said plate-carriage andmeans for securing a card to the free end of said arm comprisingaclampcarried on the end of said arm and means for opening and closing saidclamp respectively on the approach and departure of the cardcarriagefrom its normal position, consisting of a slide in operative relation toone of said clamp elements, a spring acting to move said slide to itsnormal position, a rod moving in bearings on and with saidcard-carriage, and an abutment for the end of the said rod lying in theline of movement of said carriage, for the purpose specified.

8. In a plate-printing machine, guides, a plate carriage mountedslidably thereon, means for compressing said carriage in transit, and acard-carriage mounted slidably on said guides, and an arm adjustablysecured to the said card-carriage, and projecting toward saidplate-carriage and means for securing a card to the free end of said armconsisting of a plate hinged to the said arm at its free end andnormally spring-closed, an inclined-faced lug on the lower side of saidplate, a plunger seated so as to be reciprocable on said arm so situatedthat the inclined face of said lug lies in and crosses its path andmeans for moving said plunger into and out of contact and across saidinclined face respectively on the approach and departure of saidcard-carriage to and from its normal position, for the purposespecified.

9. In a plate-printing machine, guides, a platecarriage mounted slidablythereon, means for compressing said carriage in transit, and acard-carriage mounted slidably on said guides, an arm adj ustablysecured to the said card-carriage, and projecting toward saidplate-carriage and means for securing a card to the free end of said armconsisting IIf of a plate hinged to the said arm at its free end andnormally spring-closed, an inclinedfaced lug on the lower side of saidplate, a plunger seated so as to be reciprocable on said arm so situatedthat the inclined face of said lug lies in and crosses its path andmeans for moving said plunger into and out of contact and across saidinclined face respectively on the approach and departure of saidcardcarriage to and from its normal position, anda latch projecting intothe plane of the joint between said hinged plate and arm and inoperative relation with said slide to be projected outwardly in saidjoint upon the opening of the clamp for the purpose specified.

10. In a plate-printing machine, guides, a plate carriage mountedslidably thereon, means for compressing said die-carriage in transit,and a card-carriage mounted slidably on said guides, an arm secured tothe. said card-carriage adjustable ed gewise thereon and projectingtoward said plate-carriage and an adjustable abutment on saidcardcarriage in a position to contact with said plate-carriage to adjustthe registry of .thc card and plate and means for secu rin g a card tothe free end of said arm, for the purpose specified.

11. In a printing-machine, guides, a platecarriage mounted slidablythereon, means for compressing said carriage in transit, and acard-carriage mounted slidably on said guides, an arm secured to thesaid card-carriage adjustable edgewise thereon and projecting towardsaid plate-carriage and an adjustable abutment consisting of a screwcarrying a jam-nut and mounted on said cardcarriage in a position tocontact with the said plate-carriage to adjust the registry of the cardand die and means for securing a card to the free end of said arm, forthe purpose specified.

12. In a plate-printing machine, guides, a plate-carriage slidingthereon, means for applying pressure on the face of said die-carriage,and a card -carriage provided with means for holding a card over saiddie-carriage and slidably mounted on said guides and means forinterlocking said carriages consisting of a hook on the saidcard-carriage, and a finger on the said plate-carriage adapted to engagethe said hook, for thepurpose. specitied.

13. In a plate-printing machine, guides, a plate-carriage thereon,slidably mounted, a card-carriage adapted to carry a card to, and holdit over said die-carriage, an interlocking hook on said card-carriage,and finger on said plate-carriage and means for causing thedisengagement thereof upon the said die and card carriages reaching thelimit of their continued movement after printing, for the purposespecified.

14. In a plate-printing machine, guides, a -plate-carriage thereonslidably mounted, a card-carriage adapted to carry a card to and hold itover said plate-carriage, an interlocking hook on said card-carriage,and a finger on said die-carriage and means for causing thedisengagement thereof upon the said plate and -card carriages reachingthe limit of their continued movement after printing, consisting of aninclined block secured to one of said guides and operating to tilt thesaid carriage so as to lift said hook thereon for the purpose specified.

15. In a plate-printing machine, guides, av

plate -carriage slidably mounted thereon, means for compressing saidcarriage and an automatic inking device consisting of an arm pivotallysecured and adapted to swing downwardly over the path of said plate and4carriage on said guides, an inking-roller on the free end of said arm,means for causing the said movement of said arm consisting of atoggle-lever supported laterally of the said guides and means forconnecting same operatively to said arm and said plate-carriage anddistributing ink and transferring it to said roller, for the purposespecified.

16. In a plate-printing machine, guides, a plate carriage slidablymounted thereon, means for compressing said carriage and an automaticinking device consisting of an arm pivotally secured and adapted toswing downwardly over the path of said plate and car.- riage on saidguides, an inking-roller on the free end of said arm, means for causingthe said movement of said arm consisting of a toggle-lever supportedlaterally of the said guides and means for connecting same operativelyto said arm and said plate-carriage the latter comprising a leverfulcrumed on the frame, a pitman connecting said lever to thedie-carriage and distributing ink and transferring it to said roller,for the purpose speciied.

17. In a plate-printing machine, guides, a card-carriage slidablymounted thereon, compression mechanism, an arm carrying an inking-rolleron its extremity and pivoted to the frame, a hook on said arm and alatch adapted to engage same and lying in the path and at the backwardlimit ofthe movement of said die-carriage, whereby the inking-roller ispermitted to move to and across the ink-platen.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afliX my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

JOSIAII PERCY STEVENS.

Witnesses:

A. P. Woon, PAUL DIXON.

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